The NBA determined that the Knicks started discussions with Jalen Brunson before it was allowed by the league rules.

Credit: Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix

Jalen Brunson was the biggest offseason signing for the New York Knicks last summer. It has now been officially revealed that it wasn't without an additional cost the club did not necessarily intend to pay.

Jalen Brunson

Jalen  Brunson
Jalen  Brunson
MIN: 32.2
PTS: 20.38 (56.3%)
REB: 3.19
As: 6.34
ST: 1.13
BL: 0.16
TO: 2.09
GM: 32

The team has been deducted a 2025 second-round pick for tampering during the negotiations with the player before the league rules allowed it.

"This outcome reflected a finding, following an investigation, that the Knicks engaged in free agency discussions involving Jalen Brunson prior to the date when such discussions were permitted," the NBA announced.

In particular, the league looked into three scenarios of possible tampering - the hiring of Brunson's father Rick as an assistant coach, the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein, and finally the deal with Jalen Brunson. The NBA determined that only the last one met the criteria to 

Despite the loss of the second-round pick, the Knicks have a plethora of picks over the next seven years. At the moment, the New York franchise has 11 first-round picks and nine second-rounders at its disposal.

After signing a four-year $104 million deal with the Knicks, Brunson has been averaging 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists for the club.

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